Public Statement on Alternative Cures
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Public Statement on Alternative cures Since the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic, several statements have been propagated about “immunity boosting” substances such as mustard oil, hydroxychloroquine and tea; alternative remedies claiming to provide either immunity or cure; and remedial effects of cow urine or even taweez. Some of these assertions were also supported by a few government functionaries at the centre and in various states. We, the undersigned, wish to put the following scientific facts in the public domain. ● As of now, no scientific studies show that any substance boosts the immune system specifically against COVID-19, be it modern medicines like hydroxychloroquine or homeopathic solutions like Arsenicum Album D30 or Ayurvedic preparations. ● Scientific evidence for the efficacy of any of these substances can only be obtained by rigorous testing through randomized clinical trials with COVID-19 patients, and additional laboratory analyses. Anecdotes of cure or temporary relief from symptoms or usefulness against similar diseases are not scientific proof of efficacy against COVID-19. ● Specific immunity against a bacterium or a virus can only arise in two ways. Either we were infected and recovered from the illness, or we are vaccinated; in either case we develop antibodies that can target the specific virus or bacterium. ● Colloquially, many people use the word “immunity” when they actually just mean “good health”. While a healthy diet and exercise improves a person’s general health (and the capacity of their immune system), this cannot make him/her immune from COVID-19. Further, the most severe cases of COVID-19 are made worse by an overreaction of the immune system. So trying to boost general immunity or trying to interfere with its regulation using untested methods, may be risky. ● Claims such as benefits of drinking cow urine, exposing people to UV light or injecting with disinfectants, are not supported by scientific evidence, and are in fact harmful to the human body. Similarly, while some supplements such as garlic may be harmless, others such as Zinc or Datura seeds, if taken in excess, are very toxic. ● These so-called remedies and/or immunity boosters may give people a false sense of security. Some people may wrongly assume that they won’t be affected by COVID-19 anymore, leading to risky behaviours such as not using a mask, not washing hands, or not following physical distancing protocols. Such unintentional violation of guidelines may have disastrous results by spreading COVID-19 to more people. In summary, we want to stress that none of the so-called “immunity boosters” provide any known and/or validated protection against COVID-19. Some of the “remedies” being suggested are harmful for the human body. None of these remedies should be tried without proper medical supervision. It is necessary that people do not become complacent and lower their guard just because they have consumed these so-called remedies. Date: 6th May 2020 1 Dr. Deepa Agashe Bengaluru , Karnataka Faculty Member / Teaching professional 2 Dr. Meera Bengaluru , Karnataka Faculty Member / Teaching professional 3 Dr. Ravinder Banyal Bengaluru , Karnataka Faculty Member / Teaching professional 4 Prof. Srikanth Sastry Bengaluru , Karnataka Faculty Member / Teaching professional 5 Dr. Vamsi Pritham Pingali Bengaluru , Karnataka Faculty Member / Teaching professional 6 Prof. Ajit Srivastava Bhubaneswar , Odisha Faculty Member / Teaching professional 7 Prof. Enakshi Bhattacharya Chennai , Tamil Nadu Faculty Member / Teaching professional 8 Dr. G. Thangavel Chennai , Tamil Nadu Faculty Member / Teaching professional 9 Prof. K Venkata Subrahmanyam Chennai , Tamil Nadu Faculty Member / Teaching professional 10 Prof. Madhavan Mukund Chennai , Tamil Nadu Faculty Member / Teaching professional 11 Prof. R Ramanujam Chennai , Tamil Nadu Faculty Member / Teaching professional 12 Prof. Anna George Delhi , Delhi Faculty Member / Teaching professional 13 Dr. Debasish Borah Guwahati , Assam Faculty Member / Teaching professional 14 Prof. S N Hasan Hyderabad , Telangana Faculty Member / Teaching professional 15 Dr. Anindita Bhadra Kalyani , West Bengal Faculty Member / Teaching professional 16 Prof. Ayan Banerjee Kalyani , West Bengal Faculty Member / Teaching professional 17 Dr. Sudhir Kumbhar Karad , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 18 Prof. Damodar Maity Kharagpur , West Bengal Faculty Member / Teaching professional 19 Dr. Arunabha Misra Kolkata , West Bengal Faculty Member / Teaching professional 20 Prof. Dibyendu Nandi Kolkata , West Bengal Faculty Member / Teaching professional 21 Prof. Jnana Brata Sil (জ্ঞানব্রত শীল) Kolkata , West Bengal Faculty Member / Teaching professional 22 Dr. Krishanu Maulik Kolkata , West Bengal Faculty Member / Teaching professional 23 Dr. Shamik Gupta Kolkata , West Bengal Faculty Member / Teaching professional 24 Prof. Soumitro Banerjee Kolkata , West Bengal Faculty Member / Teaching professional 25 Prof. Supratim Sengupta Kolkata , West Bengal Faculty Member / Teaching professional 26 Dr. Abhijit Majumder (অভিজিৎ মমদু ার) Mumbai , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 27 Dr. Aniket Sule Mumbai , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 28 Prof. Amol Dighe Mumbai , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 29 Dr. Jyoti Ashutosh Rao Mumbai , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 30 Prof. Nagarjuna G. Mumbai , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 31 Dr. S. Akshay Mumbai , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 32 Prof. Sachin C. Patwardhan Mumbai , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 33 Prof. Shubha Tole Mumbai , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 34 Dr. Swagata Sarkar Mumbai , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 35 Dr. Sanved Kolekar Mumbai , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 36 Prof. Mahesh Shelar Nashik , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 37 Dr. Sudesh Ghoderao Nashik , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 38 Prof. Shanta Laishram New Delhi , Delhi Faculty Member / Teaching professional 39 Dr. Sonali Sengupta New Delhi , Delhi Faculty Member / Teaching professional 40 Dr. Abhay Kudale Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 41 Dr. Aurnab Ghose Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 42 Prof. Guruswamy Kumaraswamy Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 43 Dr. Mihir Arjunwadkar Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 44 Dr. N.N.Inamdar Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 45 Prof. Nissim Kanekar Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 46 Dr. Pooja Sancheti Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 47 Prof. Poonam Chandra Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 48 Prof. Shruti Tambe Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 49 Dr. Sudha Rajamani Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 50 Prof. Sunil Mukhi Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 51 Dr. Surhud More Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 52 Prof. Vineeta Bal Pune , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 53 Prof. Chittaranjan Kar Cuttack , Odisha Faculty Member / Teaching professional 54 Prof. Shakunthala Shahapur , Karnataka Faculty Member / Teaching professional 55 Dr. Rajiv Sarkar Shillong , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 56 Dr. Bittu K R Sonipat , Haryana Faculty Member / Teaching professional 57 Dr. Sameet Mehta Woodbridge , USA Faculty Member / Teaching professional 58 Dr. Chandrashekara, K Bengaluru , Karnataka Superannuated researcher / teacher 59 Dr. Ganesan Srinivasan Bengaluru , Karnataka Superannuated researcher / teacher 60 Prof. Kamal Lodaya Bengaluru , Karnataka Superannuated researcher / teacher 61 Prof. Prajval Shastri Bengaluru , Karnataka Superannuated researcher / teacher 62 Dr. Sabyasachi Chatterjee Bengaluru , Karnataka Superannuated researcher / teacher 63 Dr. R. Geeta Chennai , Tamil Nadu Superannuated researcher / teacher 64 Dr. R. Usha Madurai , Tamil Nadu Superannuated researcher / teacher 65 Dr. S. Krishnaswamy Madurai , Tamil Nadu Superannuated researcher / teacher 66 Prof. Narendra Nayak Mangalore , Karnataka Superannuated researcher / teacher 67 Prof. Narendra Nayak Mangalore , Karnataka Superannuated researcher / teacher 68 Prof. Mayank Vahia Mumbai , Maharashtra Superannuated researcher / teacher 69 Prof. S. G. Dani Mumbai , Maharashtra Superannuated researcher / teacher 70 Dr. Jyotsna S. Dani Mumbai , Maharashtra Superannuated researcher / teacher 71 Prof. Mujtaba Lokhandwala Pune , Maharashtra Superannuated researcher / teacher 72 Dr. T.Chandraguru Virudhunagar , Tamil Nadu Superannuated researcher / teacher 73 Prof. यशवंत मा셁ती च핍हाण जयसिंगपूर , Maharashtra Superannuated researcher / teacher 74 Mr. Mahesh Mane Badlpur , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 75 Ms. Shreeya Pal Bengaluru , Karnataka Faculty Member / Teaching professional 76 Ms. Sujata Pramod Mhetre Kolhapur , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 77 Mr. Aniket Basu Kolkata , West Bengal Faculty Member / Teaching professional 78 Mr. Abdul Rahoof K A Malappuram , Kerala Faculty Member / Teaching professional 79 Ms. Neha Joglekar Mumbai , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 80 Mr. Prasad Adekar Mumbai , Maharashtra Faculty Member / Teaching professional 81 Mr. Swapnil Jawkar Mumbai , Maharashtra